Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Giveaway - an Act of random Kindness

You guys know I have a weird relationship with blog giveaways, so when Tina first emailed me with an offer to giveaway some products here I treated it with my usual grumpy old lady cynicism.But I did take the time to check out the website and ...well Tina was spot on when she said I might like what they do.

Ark is an Irish company (Oh lord the running joke at our house is that if the guy at the door has an Irish accent, I'll buy two of whatever he is selling) that have recently launched in the UK.

Ark is a not for profit movement encouraging Acts of Random Kindness through their clothing range. The idea is that you perform on Act of random Kindness every time you wear their brand. Simple ! Straightforward ! and fun ! I love it !

Their site is full of great stories and suggestions about how you can join the movement. And whilst I'm probably not going to stand on a street corner hugging people, I can certainly pay for a coffee for the guy behind me in line.

So after a chat, Tina and Cam have sent me two T-shirts to giveaway here on the blog. I have one of each of the T-shirts pictured. Now these shirts (small size 8 and large size 12) are on the small size. I can vouch for the "coolness' factor - Miss 19 was horrified at the thought that I was giving away both T-shirts and not keeping one for her.

So this giveaway is open to everyone BUT (you knew there was a but coming didn't you).

It would be great if you take a few minutes and click over and check out the website. Read about what they do with their money and the Acts of random Kindness theyhave shared, the schools initiative, the launch of donations for Haiti- good stuff people !!!

After you do that come back and leave a comment, tell me about something you like on their site, an Ark that you thought was funny, or one that you could do. Watch Cam's speech , hang out a bit.

Yes yes, I know, you're are all cynical old buggers like me, so I've put my money where my mouth is - I bought two T-shirts last night. One pink, One green for the nieces.......and today I am going to go out and perform my own act of Random kindness.

38 comments:

the fighting meanness shirt is way cool. nice undies too.. yeah, i 'm in.ps. my poor mom in america still gets bombarded by the jehovahs' witnesses at her door asking if the "aussie" still lives there ! hahahah, they came just to hear him talk ! wah !x

please don't enter me in the draw, I have no need of a tshirt in skinny mini size, but I wanted to say I love the philosophy behind it. A sad state we're in if to be kind we need to wear a garment to remind us so. But it certainly can't hurt if it encourages just one more person to open their heart and give that person in the checkout in front of them the $2 they need to save putting back that bag of potatos. More kindness = more smiles :)

Great stuff over at Ark, love those undies too. Can't get past the main page though as the good old Dept of Ed has blocked the site. Don't enter me either as i know those shirts won't fit me but if I did happen to win I'll donate it to your daughter.

I had to go and look to see the undies! Imagine the world if everyone "ARKed". Bliss. I try and share the love by giving a few home grown vegies to someone different every week. A simple act but it feels so good and never fails to make people happy......unless they don't like rhubarb.

Makes me proud to be Irish when I see clever, funny people like these guys starting ideas like ARK. I know the places and all the things they talk about...briiliant...I'm sure nobody actually believes a place called Nobber exists...it does!I love the mens stuff..I think my husband is sorted for a gift, next time he needs one. The ladies stuff is great too.

This is great stuff! I love talking to everyone including my mailman, cashier and grocery bagger.I have a 70 year old neighbor that I often take dinner to since he does not cook. Nothing too hard to shew since he doesn't have very many teeth.

What a great idea! I have often thought we are a disconnected society. More and more people are having find friends and partners online because when we're in public we have our electronic devices and just tune out. He was very charming in the video too. made me want to do exactly as he said ;0) The accent didn't hurt a bit either.

Well your man in Ireland is absolutely gorgeous!! It's hard to believe he is so young to be able to think in such a way - so glad he didn't become an accountant! Love the clothes too - undercover arking - brilliant!! Love the term 'randomer'! Glad you posted this one! x

I really love this whole concept as well. I love how candid and friendly their site is written/laid out. I love the fresh attitude/optimism/generosity that they are bringing to their business.

I love the implied promise one would make if wearing the clothing too - every time you put something of theirs on - you'd be reminded to do your Ark. That's so cool! I find I'm so much happier when I've done some small kindness to a stranger. Its just so fulfilling. :)

Wow! I can't believe I haven't seen this site before. It is a fantastic idea and I will be telling all my friends about it now. I love all this little minor things that can make someone smile like high fives for free etc. It is the little things that can make someones day.

Oh yippee, of course, the tiny size 8 would fit my super model body, gimme gimme!! How cool & i'm afraid i'm a sucker for an Irish accent. My husband tried one on me, until he said he was from Glasgow, um, der, WRONG COUNTRY. Clearly i married him for his good looks. Your nieces are lucky girls!! ARK is a great idea, although my children have realised that i don't actually know everyone at the supermarket etc, i just talk to them anyway, saying nice things about them. They just say things like "that was random mum" & i reply with "it might be the only lovely thing they hear all day". Really, i just like talking, thus length of this babble. Love Posie

Getting kicked off the computer :-( so haven't checked out the Ark site yet but have heard of them before and was all very cool. My random act of kindness today was saving someone's shoes from washing off into the Atlantic Ocean today

Please don't enter me in the contest (the giveaway shirts wouldn't fit me, sadly), but The Ark site is pretty neat - I think my favorite park was actually the "all about Ark" information page. Fun project. I'm going to order myself one of the Fighting Meanness shirts. So cool!

I'm looking forward to getting a tee shirt that will hoover the floors and do the dishes! OK...seriously, I loved the idea of the site. Kindness goes a long way, to be sure. It made me think of this site just without the cool tee-shirts: http://www.values.com/inspirational-stories-tv-spots/104-Top-Shelf

What a lovely ethos, i'm really impressed by this, great website too. Think i'm gonna start obsessing around the long sleeved grey top now, and I can easily justify the purchase by it being such a great co. & that it would remind me to be less self-centred & kinder to my fellow folk. Love it. x

The small girl at my house likes to pick our flowers and when we are walking to kinder, she will 'post' one into each letter box along the way until there are no more. She thinks that the people (none of whom we actually know) will like getting some flowers in the mail too. And it makes me smile all the way the kinder and all the way home again. Kids constantly 'random acts of Kindness' - Sadly, sometimes I'm too 'busy', too tired and 'grown up' to notice the beautiful simplisity of what I am being given...love. P

I love the 'Life is Complicated' t-shirt - it reminds me of ER and, therefore of George Clooney which is always a good thing. I love the idea of an underwear run but my disappointment at being too late to enter will be more than matched by the relief of those who will not have to witness me running in my smalls. What a great philosophy. There is nothing quite like the feeling you get when you do a random act of kindness - it makes you wonder why we don't all do it more often!

Your poor daughter. It really is too tough when your mum is a superstar and you have to miss out on everything because of it. Being kind to people should become part of our characters as we get older and realise that the arrogance of our youth was mistaken. I like the fact that there will never be more than a wage for company members. Cherrie

At Ark Ro blogs about business stress and 43 related questions for the Ark team. How cool is it that Cam, when traveling, responded to these questions with a poem! I'm inspired and wonder what my colleagues would think if they received a poem. I may have to try it myself.

For now, here's my limerick for an Ark shirt (size 8):

A t-shirt would help me you seeA traveler for work I beAround the world I goNew places will soon knowwhat Arking means to me!